Saturday, October 12, 2013

The Mini Moke returns as an electric car

Production of the iconic VW camper van comes to an end this year, but as one classic vehicle of the 1960s is killed off, another, the Mini Moke, is to be revived – as an electric car.

As the exotic, open-topped sister of the famous Austin Mini, the Moke gained a cult following in warm countries. Twenty years after the last Moke came off the production line, an updated version sporting a rust-proof body and battery-powered motor is to be built in China.The eMoke will have a top speed of 40mph and a range of 80 miles.Retro a gogoThere remains a keen appetite for modern recreations of classic cars. The need for body shapes that both slip through the air and offer maximum protection to pedestrians in the event of a collision has resulted in styling that has become increasingly homogenised. Contemporary cars such as the BMW Mini, Fiat 500 and VW Beetle may have lost the lithe styling of their younger selves, but they evoke enough nostalgia to sell well.